Simone Weil

Oppression that is clearly inexorable and invincible does not give rise to revolt but to submission.

— Simone Weil

At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is…

— Simone Weil

One should identify oneself with the universe itself. Everything that is less than the universe is subjected to suffering.

— Simone Weil

In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul…

— Simone Weil

What a country calls its vital economic interests are not the things which enable its citizens to live, but the things which…

— Simone Weil

The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell.

— Simone Weil

The highest ecstasy is the attention at its fullest.

— Simone Weil

To be innocent is to bear the weight of the entire universe. It is to throw away the counterweight.

— Simone Weil

Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due…

— Simone Weil

The entire universe is nothing but a great metaphor.

— Simone Weil

A beautiful woman looking at her image in the mirror may very well believe the image is herself. An ugly woman knows…

— Simone Weil

Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.

— Simone Weil

Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.

— Simone Weil

A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.

— Simone Weil

Joy is being fully aware of reality.

— Simone Weil

Intellectual adherence is never owed to anything whatsoever, for it is never in any degree a voluntary thing. Attention alone is voluntary.…

— Simone Weil

Evil when we are in its power is not felt as evil but as a necessity, or even a duty.

— Simone Weil

Learn to reject friendship, or rather the dream of friendship. To want friendship is a great fault. Friendship ought to be a…

— Simone Weil

There is nothing that comes closer to true humility than the intelligence. It is impossible to feel pride in one's intelligence at…

— Simone Weil

One could count on one's fingers the number of scientists throughout the world with a general idea of the history and development…

— Simone Weil

The vulnerability of precious things is beautiful because vulnerability is a mark of existence. The destruction of Troy. The fall of the…

— Simone Weil

To wish to escape from solitude is cowardice. Friendship is not to be sought, not to be dreamed, not to be desired;…

— Simone Weil

If there were no affliction in this world we might think we were in paradise.

— Simone Weil

To set up as a standard of public morality a notion which can neither be defined nor conceived is to open the…

— Simone Weil

When we hit a nail with a hammer the whole of the shock received by the large head of the nail passes…

— Simone Weil